Portable desk for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A portable office device is adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle to form a desk and includes positionable support members or legs that may be folded or pivoted into either an extended or a retracted orientation. The positionable legs enable the portable desk to be selectively positioned within a vehicle at an elevated height for use within the vehicle with the legs in the extended orientation, and with the legs in the retracted orientation, enables the portable desk to be readily transported by hand. The portable desk may further include a pivoting work surface member, various storage compartments, and a slot for receiving a seat belt to secure the portable desk to the vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to portable work surfaces, and in particular to a collapsible portable desk or office device for use in vehicles as both a storage medium and a portable laptop computer or typing support, and/or writing surface.

People regularly conduct business away from fixed locations such as offices or homes. In such cases, individuals such as salespersons, contractors, and truckers frequently travel using motor vehicles to reach their contacts or destinations.

Along with reaching remote locations, traveling by motor vehicle enables these individuals to transport many of the items they may need to conduct their business, such as cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDA's), documents, files, laptop computers, pens, paperclips, and the like. By having such items in their vehicle, business people are better equipped to efficiently and effectively conduct a broad scope of business without having to make multiple trips between the location of their business contacts and fixed office environments.

However, the glove boxes, center consoles, and door pockets of most motor vehicles are ill equipped to contain the wide array of business and office equipment needed by individuals conducting business “on the road.” As such, the motor vehicles of these individuals can become cluttered, making it hard to find needed items or even resulting in lost items, thereby reducing the efficiency of business people conducting mobile business. Such equipment is also likely to move about the vehicle passenger compartment when the vehicle is driven, making it even more difficult to find specific items, and searching for items while driving is an unsafe practice that may lead to accidents. Furthermore, in the event of an accident, loose items in the passenger compartment of a vehicle can become dangerous projectiles that may injure the occupants.

Another difficulty with conducting business from a vehicle is that there are inadequate surfaces upon which to write or type. Center consoles are generally narrow and awkwardly positioned and vehicle seats are low and sloped, forcing the individual to lean over and twist him or herself. Furthermore, as laptop computers and the ability to remotely send and receive data have become more commonplace and enabled a greater scope of business to be conducted on the road, the use of such computers and the amount of typing thereon has greatly increased.

Therefore, what is needed is a device to contain and organize business and office items used by individuals transacting business from motor vehicles. Additionally, adequate writing or typing surfaces are needed in the passenger compartment of such vehicles to enable typing and writing to be conducted more efficiently and effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle for containing and organizing business and office items. The portable desk includes positionable support members or legs that may be selectively positioned into an extended orientation when the portable desk is installed to a vehicle seat such that a top portion or a work surface member of the portable desk is positioned in an elevated orientation. The support members or legs may also be placed in a retracted position such that the portable desk may be readily transported apart from a vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle comprises a main body including a top portion and at least one positionable support member. The at least one positionable support member is adapted to being selectively positioned to the main body in an extended orientation and a retracted orientation. The portable desk is adapted to being installed on a seat in a vehicle with the at least one movable support member contacting the seat such that the top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle comprises a main body including a top portion and first and second legs. The first and second legs are pivotally mounted to the main body and are adapted to being selectively positioned in an extended and a retracted orientation. The legs are generally perpendicular to the top portion when in the extended orientation and are generally parallel to the top portion when in the retracted orientation. The portable desk is adapted for installation on a seat in a vehicle with the first and second legs contacting the seat such that the top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.

The collapsible and portable desk of the present invention provides a convenient apparatus for both working on and storing work related items in a vehicle for individuals conducting work from their vehicles. The ability of the support members or legs to be selectively positioned in-an extended orientation enables the portable desk to be positioned within a vehicle at an elevated height for use within the vehicle. In addition, the ability of the support members or legs to be collapsed or folded into a retracted position enables the portable desk to be readily transported by way of either an integrated handle or a carrying strap connected to integrated carrying strap receiving elements. The pivoting work surface member may be extended into an open position for ready use by an individual sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle. In the closed position, the work surface member may be held securely shut by a locking device such that office or work related type items may be stored within the portable desk, including when transporting the portable desk apart from a vehicle. Further, the inclusion of a shorter front profile height relative to the back profile height of the portable desk enables the top portion and/or work surface member to be positioned substantially horizontally when installed to a typical, rearwardly tipped or tilted vehicle seat when the legs are in either an extended or retracted orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable desk in accordance with the present invention shown installed to the front passenger seat of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of FIG. 1 removed from the vehicle seat shown with the legs in an extended orientation and a work surface member in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the legs in a retracted orientation;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the legs in a retracted orientation and the work surface member in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position and the legs in a retracted orientation;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the portable desk of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position and the legs in a retracted orientation;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position;

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position and the legs in a retracted orientation;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed orientation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the following written description correspond to like numbered elements in the figures. A collapsible portable desk 40 is shown in FIG. 1 secured to the passenger seat 42 of a vehicle 44 using the vehicle's seatbelt 46. When installed on a vehicle seat 42 in this manner, portable desk 40 provides a convenient location to store items such as hanging file folders and other types of folders, cellular phones, pens (not shown) and the like, as well as provides a convenient surface upon which to place and/or use a laptop computer, writing pad, or for use as a writing surface for various documents.

As described in more detail below, portable desk 40 includes movable or collapsible or foldable support members or legs 50, 52 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The legs 50, 52 are movably affixed to a main body 54 and are adapted to be placed in either an extended (FIG. 3) or retracted position or orientation (FIG. 4). The ability of legs 50, 52 to be selectively positioned into an extended orientation enables a top portion 56 and/or a work surface member 58 of portable desk 40 to be selectively positioned in an elevated orientation when installed to a vehicle passenger seat 42 for use by an individual sitting in the vehicle's driver seat. Further, the ability of legs 50, 52 to be retracted enables portable desk 40 to be placed in a convenient collapsed state (FIG. 5) for transporting by hand. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the legs 50, 52 create a support surface for contacting the vehicle seat 42 in both the extended and retracted positions in which the top portion 56 of the main body 54 of the portable desk 40 is angled thereto. Thus, when legs 50, 52 of portable desk 40 are installed on a normally rearwardly tilted vehicle seat bottom 59, as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, with the legs 50, 52 in either the extended or retracted positions, the top portion 56 of portable desk 40 is kept in a substantially horizontal orientation. Portable desk 40 thereby provides a convenient and level desk structure for retaining office-type equipment and enabling a user to readily type or write thereon.

Legs 50, 52 of portable desk 40 are affixed to main body 54, with main body 54 including a tray compartment 60 and a vertical compartment 62 for receiving hanging file folders 48. Work surface member 58 is also secured to main body 54 of portable desk 40 and when needed for typing or writing, provides a convenient area upon which to support a laptop computer, writing pad, documents, or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2-12, legs 50, 52 are constructed as a front leg 50 and a back leg 52 each of which are pivotally mounted to main body 54 via hinges 68, 70. In the extended position front and back legs 50, 52 are generally or approximately perpendicular, or slightly inwardly angled, to main body 54, as shown in FIG. 6, and in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 7, front and back legs 50, 52 are generally parallel to main body 54. As shown, front leg 50 is pivotally mounted adjacent or toward front side 64 of main body 54 using hinges 68 and back leg 52 is pivotally mounted adjacent back side 66 of main body 54 using hinges 70. Main body 54 includes front hinge tabs 72 for mounting front leg 50 thereto using hinges 68 and includes back hinge tabs 74 for mounting back leg 52 thereto using hinges 70. It should be appreciated, however, that alternative hinge styles and manners of mounting legs to a main body may be employed within the scope of the present invention, such as, for example, piano hinges, spring hinges, or the like.

In the extended orientation, as shown in FIG. 6, back leg 52 is positioned or aligned to be slightly inwardly angled with back side 66. As such, when portable desk 40 is installed to vehicle seat 42 with legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation, as shown in FIG. 1, surface 76 of back leg 52 is able to generally contact the upright and normally slightly rearwardly angled seat back 78 of vehicle seat 42 and thereby provide support to or stabilize portable desk 40 when so installed.

Front leg 50, in the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 6, is offset toward back side 66 from front side 64, thus, a portion 80 of main body 54 extends beyond front leg 50 in a cantilevered manner. Front and back legs 50, 52 are spaced apart from each other in the extended orientation such that portable desk 40 may be supported on lower seat members 59 and be compatible with vehicles having a wide range of sizes of lower seat members or seat member bottoms. The extension of a portion 80 of main body 54 beyond front leg 50 thus increases the useful area of portable desk 40. It should be appreciated, however, that a portable desk in accordance with the present invention may alternatively not include an extending portion and still function as intended.

Front and back legs 50, 52 each include a rounded seat contacting end 84, 86, respectively, that, when front and back legs 50, 52 are in the extended orientation, are adapted to contact a vehicle seat bottom 59 when portable desk 40 is installed on a vehicle seat 42. As shown in FIG. 6, the seat contacting end 86 of back leg 52 is located further away from the top portion 56 of main body 54 in comparison to the seat contacting end 84 of front leg 50. In addition, when back and front legs 50, 52 are in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 7, back leg 52 lies further from top portion 56 in comparison to front leg 50.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, portable desk 40 includes a front profile height 88 a, 88 b as defined from top portion 56 of main body 54 relative to front leg 50 in the extended and retracted orientations, respectively. Similarly, portable desk 40 includes a back profile height 90 a, 90 b defined from top portion 56 of main body 54 relative to back leg 52 in the extended and retracted orientations, respectively. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate that back profile height 90 of portable desk 40 is greater than front profile height 88 in both the extended and retracted orientations of front and back legs 50, 52. Thus, when portable desk 40 is installed to a vehicle seat 42 having an angled bottom seat member 59, as shown in FIG. 1, with front and back legs 50, 52 in either the extended or retracted orientations, top portion 56 of main body 54 is maintained in a generally horizontal orientation such that top portion 56 may be readily used for writing and/or typing thereon.

Portable desk 40 also includes left and right brace members 92, 94 that are pivotally joined to main body 54 and used to maintain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation. Left and right brace members 92, 94, in the illustrated embodiment, are constructed of tubular metal, but may alternatively be constructed of plastic, a polymeric material, or the like. Left brace member 92 is pivotally connected to left side 96 of main body 54 of portable desk 40 and right brace member 94 is pivotally connected to right side 98 of main body 54 with the pivot axes of left and right brace members 92, 94 being generally parallel to the left and right sides 96, 98, respectively, of portable desk 40. When pivoted to retain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation, left and right brace members 92, 94 include generally vertically downward front elements (not shown) and back elements 102 that are joined by a connecting element 104.

Although not shown on front leg 50, front and back legs 50, 52 each include two brace retainer elements 106 for receiving and securing left and right brace members 92, 94 when extended to retain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation. (FIGS. 2, 8, and 9). Each leg 50, 52 receives both the right and left brace members 92, 94, with the left brace member 92 being simultaneously retained in a retainer element 106 on the front leg 50 and a retainer element 106 on the back leg 52. Similarly, the right brace member 94 is retained in the other retainer elements 106 of the front and back legs 50, 52. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the bottom surface 108 of main body 54 includes left and right brace retainer elements 110, 112, respectively, for receiving and securing left and right brace members 92, 94 when pivoted upwards toward bottom surface 108 to enable front and back legs 50, 52 to be pivoted into the retracted position. Although not shown in detail, the various brace retainer elements 106, 110, 112 may be adapted to receive brace members 92, 94 in a snap-fit matter, and may be constructed as generally conventional C-shaped or U-shaped members having at least one flexible arm adapted to releasably retain brace members 92, 94.

FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose the inclusion of a leg lock apparatus 114 on the bottom surface 108 of main body 54 that is adapted to selectively and releasably retain front and back legs 50, 52 in the retracted orientation. Leg lock apparatus 114, as shown in FIG. 6, includes a downwardly extending cantilevered front tab element 116 and a downwardly extending cantilevered back tab element 118. Front tab element 116 includes a hook member 120 and a release portion 122 and, similarly, back tab element 118 includes a hook member 124 and a release portion 126. FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose the inclusion of a front catch element 128 on front leg 50 and a back catch element 130 on back leg 52. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, front tab 116 is adapted to receive front catch 128 and back tab 118 is adapted to receive back catch 130 when front and back legs 50, 52 are pivoted into the retracted orientation. When front leg 50 is pivoted into the retracted orientation, front catch 128 deflects front tab element 116 to enable front catch 128 to be retained on and by hook member 120. Similarly, when back leg 52 is pivoted into the retracted orientation, back catch 130 deflects back tab element 118 to enable back catch 130 to be retained on and by hook member 124. Front leg 50 is released from front tab element 116 by a user pushing on release portion 122 to deflect front tab 116 towards back side 66 of portable desk 40 and thereby release front catch 128 from hook member 120. Back leg 52 is released in like manner by the application of pressure to release portion 126 to deflect back tab 118 towards front side 64 of portable desk 40 and thereby release back catch 130 from hook member 124.

Although portable desk 40 is shown to include front and back legs 50, 52 in the illustrated embodiment, it should be appreciated that alternative legs or support members may be employed with a portable desk in accordance with the present invention and still function as intended. For example, a portable desk may include right and left side legs that are pivotally or otherwise mounted to the left and right sides of the main body of the portable desk. In such case, the portable desk may include front and back brace members pivotally connected to the front and back sides of the main body of the portable desk. Further, such left and right legs may include angled contacting ends to enable the top portion of the portable desk to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation when the portable desk is installed to a vehicle seat. Still further, a portable desk could be constructed to include a single support member or leg or more than two support members or legs, or may utilize telescopic or removable support members or legs.

The portable desk may also employ alternative braces, brace retainer elements, and/or leg locking apparatuses and still function as intended within the scope of the present invention. For example, braces could be constructed to pivot from the same direction as legs or braces may be incorporated into legs. Still further, an alternative portable desk may be constructed without braces.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-12, main body 54 of portable desk 40, as previously noted, includes a work surface member 58 pivotally mounted thereto, a tray compartment 60, and a vertical compartment 62 for receiving hanging file folders 48. Main body 54 also includes a slot 140 for receiving the lap belt portion of vehicle seat belt 46 when portable desk 40 is installed to vehicle seat 42 to securely retain portable desk 40 when vehicle 44 is in motion.

Work surface member 58 is pivotally connected to main body 54 via hinges 142, 144 such that work surface member 58 may be selectively placed in an open position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 8, and 11, or a closed position as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 9, 10, and 12.

In the open position of work surface member 58, when portable desk 40 is installed to a vehicle 44 as shown in FIG. 1, work surface member 58 is open toward and located closer to an individual sitting in the vehicle driver's seat. Work surface member 58 includes a pad 146 that is exposed when work surface member 58 is in the open position. Pad 146 may be constructed of a non-slip coating, such as a rubberized or polymeric coating, or the like, to inhibit work items from slipping from work surface member 58. As shown, work surface member 58 may also include work surface member trays 148, 149 that are exposed when work surface member 58 is in the open position, with work surface member trays 148, 149 being adapted to retain items such as pencils, paper clips, pens, or the like.

In the open position, work surface member 58 is retained in a substantially co-planar orientation relative to top portion 56 of main body 54 by being supported on a ledge 150 of main body 54 located adjacent hinges 142, 144 of work surface member 58 (FIGS. 3, 5, and 8). In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, work surface member 58 may alternatively or additionally be supported by the armrest 151 of vehicle 44 because legs 50, 52 are long enough to position work surface member 58 at a height compatible with armrest 151.

In the closed position, work surface member 58 is adapted to cover or close tray compartment 60. Tray compartment 60 includes a corner ledge 152 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) that supports a corner 154 of work surface member 58 in the closed position. Further, work surface member 58 includes an extension tab 156 (see FIGS. 11, 14, and 15). In the closed position, extension tab 156 of work surface member 58 is retained in a tab receptacle 158 (FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 14) recessed below the surface of top portion 56 of main body 54 to provide further support to work surface member 58 in the closed position.

Although work surface member 58 is disclosed as a pivoting work surface member in the illustrated embodiment, it should be appreciated that alternative work surface members may be employed within the scope of the present invention. Such alternatives may include, for example, a work surface member that is adapted to slide out of or from a main body, or a detachable work surface member.

Extension tab 156 of work surface member 58 includes a lock device 160 having a retractable lock element 162 (FIGS. 11 and 14) extending from extension tab 156 that is used to retain work surface member 58 in the closed position. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, extension tab 156 includes a lock release button 164 which may be slid toward the back side 66 of portable desk 40 to release the retractable lock element 162 of lock device 160 from main body 54 and thereby enable work surface member 58 to be opened. Thus, portable desk 40 may be used to transport various items in a briefcase-like fashion with the items retained within the tray compartment 60 and work surface member 58 in the closed position and locked via lock device 160.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, vertical compartment 62 is constructed as a through hole 166 to enable hanging file folders 48 to be disposed therein when back leg 52 is in the extended position as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIGS. 14 and 15 also disclose the inclusion of hangers 168, 170 for receiving conventional hooks (not shown) of the hanging file folders 48. Further, a removable insert 172 may be placed within vertical compartment 62 such that vertical compartment 62 may receive standard sized hanging file folders between hanger 168 and insert 172 and may also receive legal size hanging file folders by removing removable insert 172 and placing the hooks of legal size hanging file folders over hangers 168, 170.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 11-13, and 15, main body 54 also includes a handle 174 adapted for use in transporting portable desk 40 when removed from a vehicle seat. In the illustrated embodiment main body 54 is formed of a polymeric or plastic material and is constructed by a molding process. As such, handle 174 may be integrally formed via the molding process when main body 54 is constructed. The ability of front and back legs 50, 52 to be fixedly retained by leg locking apparatus 114 in the retracted position enables portable desk 40 to be readily transported, particularly by use of handle 174.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, main body further includes strap attachment elements 178 for receiving a strap (not shown) such that a user may also or alternatively transport portable desk 40 using a strap. In the illustrated embodiment, strap attachment elements 178 are constructed by forming apertures 180 on either side of corners 182 to create posts 184 adapted to receive the ends of a strap. The strap may include mechanical type hooks for engaging posts 184 or may be strung through apertures 180 about posts 184 and affixed to the strap via a conventional adjustable strap locking mechanism. It should be appreciated that portable desk 40 may be alternatively constructed and still function as intended within the scope of the present invention. For example, a portable desk may include a handle and/or a strap receiving element on a leg, or may even not include a handle or strap receiving elements.

The collapsible and portable desk of the present invention provides a convenient apparatus for people conducting work from their vehicles for both working on and storing work related items in a vehicle. The ability of the support members or legs to be positioned in an extended orientation enables the portable desk to be selectively positioned within a vehicle at an elevated height for use within the vehicle. In addition, the ability of the support members or legs to be collapsed or folded into a retracted position enables the portable desk to be readily transported by way of either the integrated handle or a carrying strap connected to integrated carrying strap receiving elements. The pivoting work surface member may be extended into an open position for ready use by an individual sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle. In the closed position, the work surface member may be held securely shut by way of a locking device such that office or work related type items may be stored within the portable desk, including when transporting the portable desk apart from a vehicle. Further, the inclusion of a shorter front profile height relative to the back profile height of the portable desk enables the top portion and/or work surface member to be positioned substantially horizontally when installed to a vehicle seat.

The above is a description of the preferred embodiments. One skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the claims which follow and the breadth of interpretation that the law allows. 

1. A collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle, said portable desk comprising: a main body, said main body including a top portion; and at least one positionable support member, said at least one positionable support member adapted to being selectively positioned to said main body in an extended orientation and a retracted orientation; said portable desk adapted to being installed on a seat in a vehicle with said at least one movable support member contacting the seat such that said top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.
 2. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said at least one positionable support member comprises at least one movable support member movably affixed to said main body.
 3. The portable desk of claim 2, wherein said at least one movable support member comprises two legs.
 4. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said legs are pivotally mounted to said main body.
 5. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said portable desk includes a front side, a right side, a left side, and a back side, and wherein said legs comprise a front leg and a back leg, said front leg being pivotally mounted to said main body adjacent said front side and said back leg being pivotally mounted to said main body adjacent said back side,
 6. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said portable desk includes a front side and a back side and said legs comprise a front leg and a back leg, and wherein said top portion and said front leg define a front profile height in both said extended and retracted orientations of said front leg, and said top portion and said rear leg define a rear profile height in both said extended and retracted orientations of said rear leg, said rear profile height being greater than said front profile height when said front and rear legs are in at least one of said extended orientations and said retracted orientations.
 7. The portable desk of claim 2, further including a lock apparatus, said lock apparatus adapted to retain said at least one movable support member in said retracted orientation.
 8. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said portable desk includes at least one brace member, said at least one brace member adapted to retain said at least one positionable support member in said extended orientation.
 9. The portable desk of claim 1, further including a handle, said handle adapted to being grasped by a user for transporting said portable desk.
 10. The portable desk of claim 9, wherein said handle is located on said main body.
 11. The portable desk of claim 1, further including at least one strap attachment element, said at least one strap attachment element adapted for receiving a carrying strap to be held and/or worn by a user for transporting said portable desk.
 12. The portable desk of claim 11, wherein said at least one strap attachment element comprises two strap attachment elements, said strap attachment elements being located on said main body.
 13. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said main body includes a slot adapted to receive a vehicle seat belt.
 14. The portable desk of claim 1, further including a work surface member, said work surface member being movably mounted to said top portion of said main body.
 15. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said main body includes at least one compartment.
 16. The portable desk of claim 15, wherein said at least one compartment is at least one chosen from a vertical compartment and a tray compartment.
 17. A collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle, said portable desk comprising: a main body, said main body including a top portion; and first and second legs, said first and second legs being pivotally mounted to said main body and adapted to being selectively positioned in an extended and a retracted orientation, each said leg being generally perpendicular to said top portion when in said extended orientation and being generally parallel to said top portion when in said retracted orientation; said portable desk adapted to being installed on a seat in a vehicle with said first and second legs contacting the seat such that said top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.
 18. The portable desk of claim 17, further including a work surface member pivotally mounted to said top portion of said main body such that said work surface member is selectively positionable between an open and a closed position.
 19. The portable desk of claim 18, wherein said main body includes a tray compartment, said tray compartment of said main body adapted to being covered by said work surface member when said work surface member is in said closed position.
 20. The portable desk of claim 17, further including first and second brace members, said first and second brace members being adapted to retain said first and second leg members in said extended orientation.
 21. The portable desk of claim 17, further including a leg lock apparatus, said leg lock apparatus adapted to retain said first and second legs in said retracted orientations.
 22. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said first and second legs comprise front and back legs, and wherein said front and back legs each include a seat contacting end, said seat contacting end of said back leg extending further from said top portion relative to said seat contacting end of said front leg when said front and back legs are in said extended orientations.
 23. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said main body includes a vertical compartment, said vertical compartment adapted to retain hanging folders when said first and second legs are in said extended orientation.
 24. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said main body includes a slot adapted to receive a vehicle seat belt. 